The Dall's Porpoise is one of the fastest small cetaceans, reaching a top speed of up to 55 km/hour (30 knots).

Scientific Name

Conservation Status (IUCN)

Interesting Facts

There has been evidence of hybridization between Dall’s and harbour porpoises in British Columbia. Hybrids (often nearly identical in appearance to one or the other of the parents) possibly account for 1-2% of the Dall’s porpoise population off southeastern Vancouver Island, Canada.

The species is named after the American naturalist William Healey Dall (1845-1927). While William Dall collected a sample and made field notes in 1873, it was Fredrick W. True, mammal curator at the US National Museum, who made the official species description in 1885, and dedicated the animal to his friend William Dall.

A group of Dall’s porpoise in California, travelling at high speed just underneath the surface. Photo by Michael Giskin.

Range

North Pacific Ocean including the Sea of Okhotsk, the Bering Sea, the Aleutian Islands, and along the west coast of North America as far south as Southern California. The International Whaling Commission currently recognizes 11 populations of Dall’s porpoise in the North Pacific Ocean.

Physical Description and Identifying Features

Almost entirely black body with bright white patches on the belly and on the flanks. They have a stocky body with a small head and short beak, small flippers and a robust tail stock. Males have a pronounced hump in front of the dorsal fin during the reproductive season. Calves are more of a grey color, and the flank patches are more muted than in the adults.

The Dall’s Porpoise is the largest porpoise species, reaching 210-220 cm long and 200 kg. There is some sexual dimorphism in size with females being slightly smaller at 160-206 cm long. The size difference between the sexes varies across the species range.

Behavior and Ecology

Usually found in groups of 2-10, though oceanic populations can be found in larger numbers. These animals are often found bow riding on boats. In southern British Columbia, Dall’s porpoises have been found to prefer coastal waters that range from 150-250m in depth. Though they do occur coastally in some regions, Dall’s porpoise are primarily an oceanic species. Dive times are short at 2-4 minutes. The species is preyed upon by Transient (also called Bigg’s) killer whales.

Dall’s porpoise are incredibly fast. Reaching up to 55 km/h (~ 30 mi/h), they’re the fastest of the porpoise family, and some of the fastest small cetaceans. The animals create fan-shaped splashes of water, also called “rooster tails” when swimming at high speeds. Photo by Michael Giskin.

Reproduction

Females reach sexual maturity between 4-7 years, males from 3.5-8 years old. Most females will mate in summer about a month after giving birth to a calf, with males physically competing for females. Gestation is thought to be 10-12 months long.

Lifespan

8-20 years, though animals older than 10 are rare.

Diet

Varied diet of fish and cephalopods.

Conservation Concerns

This species has been the target of human consumption in Japan, with current annual targets of about 15,000 animals.

Environmental contaminants, like all high trophic level marine predators, are thought to be a threat. This includes possible high levels of organochlorines (found in many industrial processes from insulation to pesticides) reducing testosterone levels in males and effecting calf viability.

Help us raise awareness for the Dall's porpoise

There are only seven species of porpoise, one of them critically endangered, all of them vulnerable to human actions. Please help us raise awareness for the smallest of the whales, porpoises and dolphins by symbolically adopting a porpoise and support our research, education and conservation efforts.